Fish Art: Recycled Bottle Cap Mosaics

 

Bottle Cap Mosaics on Display at Vale Craft Gallery

 

Bottle caps have long had a place in the folk art tradition as a decorative element. Usually, they are deployed more as a texture, willy nilly without sorting for color. My  own bottle cap mosaics were initially inspired by  Haitian ritual flags, in which detailed images are realized entirely through the use of sequins. The first bottle cap pieces I did were large mosaics  combining  bottle caps with vitreous glass tile. Each cap is sorted by brand or color, washed, dried, punched, partially crimped and finally nailed in overlapping scales to create a feeling of depth, light and shadow. Decorative nail heads emulate the texture of seed beads often used to reinforce the sequins on flags. 

What I like most about making the smaller fish mosaics is that the overlapping texture of the caps does such a good job of representing scales.These fish have been one of my big sellers… I don't make a lot of them, because they're far too labor intensive to actually be profitable but I love the look of them. Typically sell out almost as soon as they appear. I am willing to do custom fish in this style, either by brand, color or shape, whatever, ah, floats your boat. If you'd like to commission a fish just drop me an email from the contact page and let me know what you're thinking. If one of the fish below tickles your fancy, I suggest calling the appropriate gallery A.S.A.P. These really do swim off to new homes pretty quickly.

 

Bottle Cap Mosaics at Vale Craft Gallery
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availability	SOLD . Email me if you are interested in commissioning a fish in this style. Reproductions will vary, but will be as close as possible. Made to order in 2-4 weeks.

 

Bottle Cap Mosaics Available From Mixed Elements Gallery
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availability	SOLD . Email me if you are interested in commissioning a fish in this style. Reproductions will vary, but will be as close as possible. Made to order in 2-4 weeks.

 

Bottle Cap Mosaics at Checkered House Gallery
click thumbnail to view larger images.
availability	SOLD . Email me if you are interested in commissioning a fish in this style. Reproductions will vary, but will be as close as possible. Made to order in 2-4 weeks.